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Recovery of nickel metal via electrodeposition

One of our project is to recover nickel metal from our plating solution waste through electrodeposition. We need to setup a simple recovery unit. would you know of any correlation that I can use to make a simple design of recovering the nickel? like I need to consider the voltage, current, resistance of the solution, concentration of the solution and other stuff. or if you can refer me to any book... thanks!

JM Puguan
plating - Cavite, Philipines
2007

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Hello, JM. Please be aware that recovery cells exist as commercially available items. You need not start by reinventing the wheel. But if you wish to do so as an educational exercise, you can start with Faraday's Law of Electrolysis. Then you will discover that the efficiency of the cell drops very rapidly as the nickel concentration drops. Efficiency is this context means the actual deposition versus what is predicted by Faraday's Law. You will learn that extreme solution agitation and large surface area cathodes are important towards maintaining efficiency. You may also discover that your machine is hazardous, as the finely deposited metal particles can ignite or the unit can short out. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007